International school admissions in Mumbai run on a tighter, earlier calendar than most relocating families expect. The good news is that the process is unusually well documented. The less good news is that the best-regarded year groups at the best-regarded schools are often closed before some families have even signed a lease in Bandra or Powai.
This guide sets out how admissions actually work in Mumbai in 2026: when to apply, what documents you need, what the assessments look like, and what your options are if you arrive out of cycle.
The Mumbai admissions calendar
Mumbai's international schools run an academic year that typically starts in April or in August, depending on whether the school follows an Indian or a Northern Hemisphere calendar. This single fact catches out more families than anything else, because it means there are effectively two admissions seasons in the city.
- Schools on an April start: applications generally open the previous September and close between November and January. Offers land January to February.
- Schools on an August start: applications open October to December, with assessments January to March and offers from February.
- Rolling and mid-year entry: most Mumbai international schools will consider applications year-round subject to space, particularly in Grades 1 to 8.
Apply as early as the window allows. Mumbai schools weight the order in which complete applications arrive more heavily than families assume, and an application missing one document is not a complete application.
Which curricula you are applying into
The curriculum determines the assessment, so it is worth being clear before you apply.
IB (PYP, MYP, Diploma)
Widely available in Mumbai and the strongest choice for families who expect to move again. IB Diploma admission at Grade 11 is competitive and usually involves subject-specific assessment plus an interview.
Cambridge IGCSE and A Level
Common in Mumbai and popular with families targeting UK universities. Entry into Year 10 (IGCSE) is a natural break point; entry mid-IGCSE is harder because coursework has already begun.
CBSE and ICSE with international streams
Several Mumbai schools offer an Indian board alongside an international one. If there is a chance your family stays in India through to university, this route keeps the Indian entrance-exam pathway intact.
International schools in Mumbai to shortlist
Oberoi International School
An IB continuum school in Goregaon with PYP, MYP and Diploma provision on one campus. See the Oberoi International School profile on ISA.
DSB International School
Located in South Mumbai, DSB offers a German-international bilingual pathway alongside international programmes, which is unusual in the city and valuable for German-speaking families. View the profile and reviews.
Aditya Birla World Academy
A South Mumbai school running IGCSE and IB Diploma programmes with a strong record on university placement. Check admissions detail on ISA.
Podar International School
A large group with Mumbai campuses offering both Cambridge and IB options, which gives families more flexibility on start dates. Read more on ISA.
Documents Mumbai schools will ask for
Assemble this pack before you start filling in forms. Missing paperwork is the single most common cause of delay.
- Completed application form and application fee (typically INR 2,000 to INR 25,000, non-refundable)
- Birth certificate, plus an official translation if not in English
- Passport copies for the child and both parents, with valid Indian visa or OCI card
- The last two to three years of school reports and transcripts
- A transfer certificate or leaving certificate from the current school
- Immunisation records
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Proof of Mumbai address, or the employer letter and lease if you have not yet moved
- Any educational psychologist or learning-support reports
On the transfer certificate: schools moving a child from an Indian board school will usually insist on one, and obtaining it from the previous school can take weeks. Start that request early.
Assessments and interviews
Expect an age-appropriate assessment rather than a competitive entrance exam at primary level. Typical components are an English reading and writing task, a mathematics paper aligned to the year group, and a conversation with the child. From Grade 6 upwards the assessments get more formal, and for IB Diploma entry schools will look closely at the last two years of grades in the subjects your child intends to take at Higher Level.
Parent interviews are standard in Mumbai and are not a formality. Schools are assessing fit, expectations and whether the family understands what the programme demands. Come with specific questions about the programme rather than general ones about facilities.
Language support for arriving students
English is the medium of instruction across Mumbai's international schools, so students arriving from non-English systems will be assessed on English proficiency. Most schools offer English as an Additional Language support, but provision varies sharply. Ask three questions: is EAL included in tuition or billed on top, how many hours a week does a beginner receive, and at what point is a student exited from the programme. Hindi or Marathi is usually taught as a second language and beginners are accommodated.
If you arrive mid-year
Mumbai has significant corporate turnover, which works in your favour off-cycle. Contact admissions offices directly rather than relying on the online form, ask for the current waiting list position by year group, and be prepared to accept a place at a second-choice school for a term while a place opens up. Do not withdraw a child from schooling entirely while waiting; schools view continuous enrolment favourably.
Compare Mumbai schools before you apply
Applying to three or four schools is normal in Mumbai, and application fees are non-refundable, so shortlist carefully. Browse the International School Advisor ranking of schools in India to compare verified Mumbai profiles, curricula and fee data in one place.
Frequently asked questions
When do international school applications open in Mumbai?
Most Mumbai international schools open applications between September and December for the following academic year, with offers issued January to March. Schools on an April start run earlier than those on an August start, so check each school's calendar.
What documents do I need for international school admission in Mumbai?
You will need the application form and fee, birth certificate, passports and valid visas, two to three years of school reports, a transfer certificate from the current school, immunisation records and proof of address. Learning-support reports should be disclosed at application.
Can my child join an international school in Mumbai mid-year?
Yes, in most cases. Mumbai's high expat turnover means places open through the year, particularly in Grades 1 to 8. Contact admissions offices directly and ask for the current waiting list position rather than relying on the website.